Ross marks 200-meeting milestone

by jmaloni

Press release

Thu, Mar 7th 2013 01:45 pm

A surprised Niagara County Legislature Chairman William L. Ross clasps hands with Legislator Paul B. Wojtaszek as county lawmakers paused to congratulate Ross on presiding over his 200th Legislature meeting as chairman. Standing behind Ross is Majority Leader Rick Updegrove, who praised Ross for being "fair to all parties and viewpoints" in his role as presiding officer of the Legislature.

by
Christian W. Peck

Public
Information Officer

Niagara
County Public Information Office

Proud colleagues heaped praise on Niagara County Legislature Chairman
William L. Ross, C-Wheatfield, Tuesday in Lockport as the long-time government
head gaveled his 200th meeting as presiding officer of the Legislature to
order.

Ross, who has headed up the county's government for nine of the past 10
years, first served as chairman back in 1989, when then-County Clerk Ray Beiter
appointed him to the post when the then-majority Democrats were unable to reach
agreement on the election of a Legislature chairman. He served one year, and
later left county government for much of the 1990s before returning following
the departure of then-Legislator Art Kroening, R-Wheatfield.

Ross then returned to the dais at the front of the Legislative chamber in
2004, when a coalition government composed of members of the Republican,
Independence and Conservative parties, as well as breakaway Democrats, took
charge of the chamber after two years of Democrat control and asked Ross - popularly
known as "Coach" to many of this friends and colleagues - to head the county
government.

Majority Leader Rick Updegrove, R-Lockport, lauded Ross's leadership style,
noting that he had made government more civil and more effective.

"Bill has had to be fair and open to both sides of the political aisle. He
has had to give equal time to the Minority Caucus and the Majority. He has had
to ensure that the Legislature, above all, is fair to all parties and
viewpoints," he said.

"I think Bill Ross has done so with class, with decorum, with restraint at
times," Updegrove continued. "It is a difficult position to be in - to have to
protect the right of others to express viewpoints you often find yourself
disagreeing with on very stark grounds. For 200 meetings, Chairman Bill Ross
has done precisely that."

Updegrove also noted Ross has served a role as a peacemaker in county
government, often helping bring both sides of the aisle together.

"On those occasions when compromise has proven the best course for this
government, Bill has played a key role in fostering a climate that made such bipartisan
agreements possible," Updegrove said. "I am proud to call you my friend as well
as my colleague - and my chairman."

Two other lawmakers also complimented Ross on his leadership over the past
decade during Tuesday's meeting.

Legislator Paul B. Wojtaszek noted Ross is often viewed as one of the
hardest working people in the entire government - not just the County
Legislature.

"Chairman Ross has, more than anything, dedicated himself to being the
public face of this county. He is everywhere," Wojtaszek said. "Our chairman
runs rings around men half his age. And, while he has a couple years on me, I
only hope that, when I am his age, I can keep up."

Legislator John Syracuse concurred, and noted that Ross never rebuffs a
colleague who seeks his counsel and years of experience and knowledge.

"I have called Bill Ross late at night, and early on Saturday mornings,"
Syracuse said. "With other lawmakers, I might hesitate, but with Bill I know
there is a reasonable chance he's awake, looking at either the county budget or
the budget of one of the entities whose boards he sits on, like NCCC."

Syracuse also pointed to Ross's cheery disposition as a key to his success
chairman.

"He's never gruff, he's never unkind - even if he disagrees with you," he
said. "He is a gentleman who lives up to that term in every way. I have been
able to do my job, and hopefully do it well, this past decade because I have
been able to turn to leaders - Chairman Ross, in particular - who consider it
their responsibility to help me do my job."

Syracuse closed out his remarks with a sincere wish for Ross' health and
longevity.

"As my colleagues have wisely noted, we are privileged to be able to say
Bill Ross is our colleague. But we're darn lucky to say that he is our
chairman. God willing, I'll be able to say the same on the occasion of your
300th meeting, Bill," Syracuse told Ross.